Clivia Gardenii

Habitat and Distribution

Clivia gardenii in general prefers well drained loamy soil, and are usually found in steeply sloping areas or even on cliffs., though populations have been recorded in marshy These plants occur in evergreen forests under a tall, 20 m high closed canopy in the area of Maputaland-Pondoland between the Pondoland Centre and the Maputaland Centre. Gardenii also grow in the Ngome Forest in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

Plant Structure and Leaves

Plants are usually between 800 and 1300 mm in height. with 10-12 bright green leaves in a tuft, ensiform. These leaves are 25 to 60 mm wide and 350 to 900 mm long, narrowing to a point.

Flowers and Berries

The orange-red pendulous flowers with pronounced green tips;varies from yellow to brownish red and are more curved and not as pendulous as Caulescens and Nobilis. The flowering season is from May to July, with some plants already setting seed while others are still in bud. The berries with one or two large seeds ripen the following winter, about 12-15 months after pollination.

Information from the Clivia Society